European troops prepare for a postwar Ukraine mission that's fraught with challenges

LONDON -- Thousands of European troops will take part in a military exercise in Poland this month to prepare for a hypothetical postwar mission in Ukraine to boost the country’s economy and rebuild its armed forces. But some experts say the deployment may never take place.The force's first military exercise, led by Britain and France, is aimed both at testing deployment plans and sending a message to Russia and the Trump administration that European countries are stepping up militarily. Yet the overall mission is plagued with challenges, including the ongoing fighting, questions over American support and the outcome of the upcoming French elections.Britain and France are both part of a wider political group of 37 nations supporting Ukraine known as the Coalition of the Willing.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that in the event of a peace deal, there must be strong security guarantees from Kyiv’s Western allies, including the United States, to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking the country again. That's where this force could come in.“This exercise shows the UK is stepping up, alongside France and our allies, to prepare for the day peace...